Ahern explains ¤40m Croke Park grant
Friday, 1 October 2004 19:22
The Taoiseach has said the Government's ¤40 million grant to Croke Park has no strings attached because it was not necessary to enter into a conflict with the GAA.
Speaking in Galway, Bertie Ahern said the use of the stadium by other sports is a matter for the organisation.
He said the GAA was aware that both the FAI and the IRFU have to decide where to play games while Lansdowne Road is closed, and that games would have to be played outside the State if no venue is available.
'This would be a huge pity and the GAA know that too, but that is a matter for their consideration,' Mr Ahern added.
'They are good sports people and we have seen in the two All-Ireland finals where they honoured athletes from other sports. I'm sure they will look at these things in their own time,' he said.
Mr Ahern was officially opening the ¤100 million Galway Clinic. The private acute hospital has over 100 inpatient beds, an eight-bed intensive care unit and a radiotherapy unit.
